Written Answers

Friday 5 January 2001

Scottish Executive

Higher Education

Ian Jenkins (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which parliamentary constituencies contain residential accommodation of institutions of higher education.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The location of residential accommodation of higher education institutions is a matter for those institutions and information is not held centrally.

Higher Education

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources are available for investment in research infrastructure in Scottish higher education institutions in the current year.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Executive is committed to building a modern knowledge economy in Scotland, underpinned by world-class scientists, and world-class research equipment and facilities. The new knowledge produced by scientists and researchers in Scotland brings social and economic benefits to the people of Scotland in terms of new technology, new products, new services and new jobs.

  The Executive has, therefore, increased the grant to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) by £3 million in the current financial year, specifically for capital for research infrastructure. I welcome the Funding Council's early decision on the allocation of these resources and specifically its announcement that £2.5 million is to be invested in Biomedical Research Laboratories at Aberdeen University.